Adjustable fishing grapple tool

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods for borehole fishing include a borehole fishing tool. The borehole fishing tool includes a grapple for fixedly attaching to a fish in a borehole, at least two metal springs mounted in the grapple to generate expansion and contraction for catching the fish in the borehole, and a slip profile attached to each metal spring. The borehole fishing tool further includes a plurality of teeth mounted on the slip profile to engage the fish with the grapple and a connector attached to the borehole fishing tool to connect the borehole fishing tool to a conveyor.

BACKGROUND

In the course of drilling and completing boreholes to produce oil and gas from subterranean reservoirs, or while stimulating and producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs, it is not uncommon for equipment to be dropped into the borehole from the surface or for downhole tools and equipment to become separated from their conveyor. When this occurs, it is frequently necessary to retrieve the dropped equipment or separated downhole tools from the borehole before normal drilling, completing, stimulating, or producing operations may continue. This process of retrieval is commonly called “fishing” and the equipment or tools to be retrieved are commonly called “fish”.

During fishing operations, several trips may be made downhole because grapple size did not properly fit on top of the fish. Several trips can be a costly and time-consuming procedure. Accordingly, there exists a need for a tool design for an automatically adjustable grapple with a variety of size range.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus of a borehole fishing tool. The apparatus includes a grapple for fixedly attaching to a fish in a borehole, at least two metal springs mounted in the grapple to generate expansion and contraction for catching the fish in the borehole, and a slip profile attached to each metal spring. The borehole fishing tool further includes a plurality of teeth mounted on the slip profile to engage the fish with the grapple and a connector attached to the borehole fishing tool to connect the borehole fishing tool to a conveyor.

In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for a borehole fishing tool. The method includes attaching a borehole fishing tool having a grapple to a conveyor, inserting the borehole fishing tool attached to the conveyor into a borehole, and forming a neutral position of at least two metal springs to create space using the grapple. The method further includes receiving a fish in between the at least two metal springs in the neutral position, engaging a plurality of teeth of a slip profile on each of the at least two metal springs in the grapple to the fish in the borehole through a latching position in the grapple, and engaging the borehole fishing tool to the fish guided by the slip profile. The method further includes retracting the conveyor from the borehole and raising the borehole fishing tool and the fish uphole until out of the borehole.

Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the disclosed technology will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.

FIG. 1 shows a system, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2A-2B show a device, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3A-3C show stages/steps involved in a method, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4A-4E show stages/steps involved in a method, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as an adjective for an element (i.e., any noun in the application). The use of ordinal numbers is not to imply or create any particular ordering of the elements nor to limit any element to being only a single element unless expressly disclosed, such as using the terms “before”, “after”, “single”, and other such terminology. Rather, the use of ordinal numbers is to distinguish between the elements. By way of an example, a first element is distinct from a second element, and the first element may encompass more than one element and succeed (or precede) the second element in an ordering of elements.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a fishing tool with an adjustable grapple. Utilizing such a fishing tool allows for the grapple to properly fit any size of fish neck. The fish neck may be damaged or not uniformly intact.

FIG. 1 illustrates a borehole (102), which may penetrate a subterranean region (104). The borehole (102) may contain a “fish” (106). The fish may be a piece of equipment, or a downhole tool, or a piece of completion, such as a portion of casing or tubing. The fish (106) may have been accidentally dropped into the borehole from the Earth's surface (108), the fish (106) may have become accidentally separated from its conveyor (114), or the fish (106) may have become stuck in the borehole (102) and been deliberately separated from its conveyor (114).

FIG. 1 further illustrates, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a borehole fishing tool (110) deployed within the borehole (102). The borehole fishing tool (110) may be attached to a first end of a conveyor (114). The conveyor (114) may extend from the borehole fishing tool (110) to the Earth's surface (108).

A second end of the conveyor (114) may be attached to a means of suspension at the Earth's surface (108). The means of suspension may be a rig (120), or a coiled tubing unit (not illustrated), or a crane and winch (not shown).

The conveyor (114) of the borehole fishing tool (110) shown in FIG. 1 may, in accordance with one or more embodiments, be capable of inserting the borehole fishing tool (110) into the borehole (102) and conveying and retrieving the borehole fishing tool (110) from at least a portion of the borehole (102). The conveyor (114) may be selected from a group consisting of a slickline, a wireline, a coil tubing, or a string of drill pipe. The conveyor (114) may be connected to the borehole fishing tool (110) with a connector (not shown). The connector may be an API standard tool joint as specified in ISO 11961:2018, and ISO 10424-2 published by the International Organization for Standardization, or API Spec 7-2 published by the American Petroleum Institute. In other embodiments, the borehole fishing tool (110) may connect directly to the conveyor (114). Further, the conveyor (114) of the borehole fishing tool (110) may be capable of lowering the borehole fishing tool into a substantially vertical borehole (102) and may be capable of pushing the borehole fishing tool (110) into a highly deviated borehole and/or a horizontal borehole. The borehole fishing tool (110) may be equipped with a grapple (112), in accordance with one or more embodiments. The grapple (112) may be capable of fixedly attaching to the fish (106) in such a manner as to connect the borehole fishing tool (110) to the fish (106).

An example of a grapple (112), in accordance with one or more embodiments, is shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 2A shows an outer shell (202) of the grapple (112). The outer shell (202) may be an external membrane of grapple (112). The outer shell (202) may be of cylindrical shape. The outer shell (202) may include a larger member which encompasses the adjustable part of the grapple (112) and a smaller member which connects to the rest of the borehole fishing tool (110). The outer shell (202) may have a roughness or texture.

FIG. 2B, in accordance with other embodiments, shows the internal layout of the grapple (112). The internal layout contains at least two slip profiles (204) on the inner wall of the grapple (112). Specific to this embodiment, two slip profiles (204) are opposite to and facing one another. Each slip profile (204) may include a plurality of teeth (206) to fixedly attach the borehole fishing tool (110) to the exterior of the fish (106). The teeth (206) may be mounted on each slip profile (204) to engage the fish (106) with the grapple (112). The teeth (206) may be designed with unified angles between the teeth (206). The teeth (206) may be designed to face uphole towards the borehole fishing tool (110). The teeth (206) may have a sharpened end for the purpose of securing the fish (106). The teeth (206) may be made of any material appropriate for securing the fish (106), such as high-quality alloy steel. Heat treatment may be applied to the teeth (206) material. The slip profiles (204) may have attachments to connect to the grapple (112). In one or more embodiments, the attachment between the slip profile (204) and the grapple (112) is a metal spring (208). The grapple (112) must include at least two metal springs (208), one for each slip profile (204). The two metal springs (208) may be mounted in the grapple (112). The metal spring (208) is made of elastic material. The metal spring (208) may generate expansion and contraction for catching the fish (106) in the borehole (102).

In accordance with one or more embodiments, several stages of the mechanism layout of the grapple (112) are shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 3A illustrates a top view of the grapple (112). The top view includes a downhole visual of the slip profiles (204), metal springs (208), and inner circumference (302) of the grapple (112). The inner circumference (302) is the space inside the grapple (112). FIG. 3B illustrates the grapple (112) in a neutral position. The neutral position may be the position when the metal springs (208) are at a rested place, expanded, or slightly compressed. The neutral position may allow the grapple (112) to slide over the top of the fish (106). The fish (106) may enter the inner circumference (302) in the neutral position. The grapple (112) may fixedly attach to the exterior of the top of fish (106) in the neutral position. FIG. 3C illustrates the grapple (112) in a latching position. The metal springs (208) may contract to create a space as the fish (106) enters further into the grapple (112) in the latching position. The fish (106) may apply a force as it enters further into the grapple (112) compressing the metal springs (208). The teeth (206) may engage and secure the fish (106).

FIG. 4 shows stages/steps involved in a method, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Specifically, a method of a fishing procedure is illustrated. FIG. 4A shows the borehole fishing tool (110) running downhole towards the fish (106). FIG. 4B shows the borehole fishing tool (110) with the internal layout of the grapple (112) shown running towards the top of the fish (106). FIG. 4C shows the internal layout of the grapple (112) fully encompassing the fish (106) and latched. FIG. 4D shows the outer shell (202) of the grapple (112) fully encompassing the fish (106) and latched. FIG. 4E shows the borehole fishing tool (110) being pulled uphole with the fish (106) latched in the grapple (112).

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart that illustrates the use of a borehole fishing tool (110), as described with respect to FIGS. 2-4 above, in accordance with one or more embodiments. One or more blocks in FIG. 5 may be performed using one or more components as described in FIGS. 1 and 2 . While the various blocks in FIG. 5 are presented and described sequentially, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that some or all of the blacks may be executed in a different order, may be combined or omitted, and some or all the blocks may be executed in parallel and/or iteratively. Furthermore, the blocks may be performed actively or passively.

In Step 500, a borehole fishing tool (110) with a grapple (112) may be attached to a conveyor (114). The conveyor (114) may be a coiled tubing, a wired coil tubing, a string of drill pipe, a string of wired drill pipe, a wireline, or a slick line. In Step 502, the borehole fishing tool (110) may, in accordance with one or more embodiments, be retractably inserted into the borehole (102) by the conveyor (114). The borehole fishing tool (110) may be inserted to the approximate anticipated location of the fish (106).

In Step 504, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a neutral position may be formed using the grapple (112) for which the fish (106) may enter the grapple (112). The metal springs (208) attached to the respective slip profiles (204) may be slightly compressed to create more space. The borehole fishing tool (110) may receive the fish (106) in between the metal springs (208) through the neutral position. As the fish (106) enters the grapple (112), the teeth (206) on the slip profiles (204) engage to the fish (106) in the borehole (102). In Step 506, the borehole fishing tool (110) engages to the fish (106) through the latching position. Guided by the slip profiles (204) in the latching position The borehole fishing tool (110) may be fixedly attached to the fish (106). In accordance with one or more embodiments, guiding the borehole fishing tool (110) may further include changing the position or orientation of the borehole fishing tool (110) using the conveyor (114). Changing the position of the borehole fishing tool (110) may include any combination of raising, lowering, pushing, pulling, and rotating the borehole fishing tool (110) using the conveyor (114).

In Step 508, in accordance with one or more embodiments, the conveyor (114) may be retracted form the borehole (102), raising the borehole fishing tool (110), and the fish (106) out of the borehole (102). The fish (106) may be raised to the Earth's surface (108). Raising the borehole fishing tool (110) and the fish (106) out of the borehole (102) may further include

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a device and method for adjustably fitting the left in hole (LIH) junk and fish it in one run. The fish engagement (latching) may be accomplished without the need to size the fish (106) due to having an adjustable grapple (112). Thus, embodiments disclosed herein enhance fishing operations by saving time and improving fishing operation efficiency by increasing the changes of latching the LIH fish (106) using an adjustable fishing grapple tool.

Although only a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ together with an associated function. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A borehole fishing tool, comprising: a grapple for fixedly attaching to a fish in a borehole; at least two metal springs, mounted in the grapple, to generate expansion and contraction for catching the fish in the borehole; a slip profile attached to each metal spring; a plurality of teeth, mounted on the slip profile, to engage the fish with the grapple; and a connector attached to the borehole fishing tool to connect the borehole fishing tool to a conveyor.
 2. The borehole fishing tool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth are designed so as to face uphole.
 3. The borehole fishing tool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth are designed each having unified angles.
 4. The borehole fishing tool of claim 1, wherein the grapple comprises a neutral position to allow the fish to enter an inner circumference.
 5. The borehole fishing tool of claim 1, wherein the grapple comprises a latching position to allow the at least two metal springs to be compressed to create space for the fish in the grapple.
 6. The borehole fishing tool of claim 4, wherein the inner circumference is space inside the grapple.
 7. The borehole fishing tool of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two metal springs are elastic.
 8. The borehole fishing tool of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two metal springs is arranged such that the slip profile attached thereto is opposite to and facing another slip profile attached to another of the at least two metal springs.
 9. The borehole fishing tool of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is selected from a group consisting of a slickline, a wireline, a coil tubing, a wired coil tubing, a string of drill pipe, and a string of wired drill pipe.
 10. A borehole fishing method, comprising: attaching, to a conveyor, a borehole fishing tool having a grapple; inserting the borehole fishing tool attached to the conveyor into a borehole; forming, using the grapple, a neutral position, of at least two metal springs to create space; receiving, in the neutral position, a fish in between the at least two metal springs; engaging, through a latching position in the grapple, a plurality of teeth of a slip profile on each of the at least two metal springs in the grapple to the fish in the borehole; engaging, guided by the slip profile, the borehole fishing tool to the fish; retracting the conveyor from the borehole; and raising the borehole fishing tool and the fish uphole until out of the borehole.
 11. The borehole fishing method of claim 10, wherein the conveyor is selected from a group consisting of a slickline, a wireline, a coil tubing, a wired coil tubing, a string of drill pipe, and a string of wired drill pipe.
 12. The borehole fishing method of claim 10, wherein the latching position further comprises: applying a force on the at least two metal springs in the grapple so as to compress the slip profile of each of the at least two metal springs.
 13. The borehole fishing method of claim 12, wherein the force is applied by the fish.
 14. The borehole fishing method of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two metal springs are elastic.
 15. The borehole fishing method of claim 10, arranging each of the at least two metal springs such that the slip profile attached thereto is opposite to and facing another slip profile attached to another of the at least two metal springs.
 16. The borehole fishing method of claim 10 further comprising: selecting the conveyor from a group consisting of a slickline, a wireline, a coil tubing, a wired coil tubing, a string of drill pipe, and a string of wired drill pipe. 